Carton



H. W. LAYNE April 13, 1965 CARTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 25, 1962 FIG.2

INVENTOR. HAR OLD W. LAYNE ATTORN EY H. W. LAYNE April 13, 1965 CARTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 25, 1962 FIGB INVENTOR. HAROLD W. LAYNE ATTORN EY United States Patent O 3,173,664 CARTN Harold W. Layne, Beech Grove, ind., assigner to inland Container Corporation, ndianapoiis, ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed duly 2S, i962, Ser. No. M2397; d Claims. (Cl. Z22-MS) This invention relates to dispensing and shipping and dispensing packages for liquids such as milk, ice cream mix and the like, and of the type employing a thin plastic liner supported within a carton of corrugated berboard.

ln containers of the type referred to, the plastic liner comprises a somewhat over size bag to which is attached a filling and dispensing hose which may be of rubber, plastic or the like. In prior packages developed, as shown in Patent No. 3,007,608, it was considered desirable that the carton be provided with a breast element at one end in addition to the carton to provide space for the hose, and to provide a smooth support for the bag when the package was inverted for dispensing. Subsequently, as disclosed in copending application Serial No. 30,342, tiled May 19, 1960, now Patent No. 3,117,695 granted January 14, 1964, the additional element was dispensed with, by employing a flap scored intermediate its width, to permit the same to be bent inwardly to afford limited space for the hose during shipment, and which flap would iiatten out on inversion and withdrawal of the hose end for dispensing. In both of these forms, the breast, and the scored iiap, a circular hole through which the hose could extend was provided. In addition sealing strips of gummed paper, are required in unusual locations, and the removal of a portion of such gummed paper was required for access.

The present invention is directed to a further improvement in the carton structure, which provides space for the hose during shipment, and a ilat support for the bag on inversion after withdrawal of the dispensing hose end. More particularly the invention contemplates the employment of a carton, substantially square in girth,

the ilaps of which are rectangular and meet at the transverse center lines of the carton ends. The inside flaps of the illing and dispensing end, which may be referred to as side aps, have a small portion of two adjacent front corners removed, to provide an aperture through which the hose and its attachment to the bag may project, and one of the outer aps, which may for convenience, be referred to as the front iiap, is provided with a perforated finger pull section overlying such aperture and capable of ready removal from the carton ap. Space for the hose during shipment is provided by merely depressing the inner ilaps inwardly of the carton end to provide a broad base isosceles triangular sectioned space dened by the planar inside faces of the outer aps, and the adjacent outer faces of the inside side flaps, which are angularly disposed with respect to each other, by being depressed inwardly of the carton by an amount suicient to provide space for the hose of the carton.

The carton is readily iilled, following which the inner aps are folded in with the hose and attachment disposed in the aperture formed by the removed hap corners, after which the hose end is plugged and is laid along one of the flaps which are depressed slightly into the carton, after which the outside flaps are closed, and sealed by a single strip oi gummed tape.

When the lied carton is prepared for dispensing, the outer flap finger pull section is removed to provide an aperture for access to the hose, which is disposed between the inner and outer flaps, and which may then be drawn out through the outer flap aperture. Upon inversion of l'ih/i Patented Apr. i3, i

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the carton, the inside flaps atten out against the outside iiaps and provide a ilat support bed for the bag end, while the hose end and portion of the bag attached thereto projects through the aperture formed by the removed corners of the inner' iiaps to form a funnel feeding into the dispensing hose. The carton blank is readily formed, set up and lled with a minimum of effort and sealed by standard procedure. No threading of a tube through a flap or breast element aperture is required.

The above and other novel features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is expressly understood that the drawings are employed for purposes of illustration only and are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

in the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of the front and one side of a carton with its upper aps open;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective View of the carton with a lled bag therein, with its dispensing hose, and the hose attachment portion of the bag disposed in portion after closing the side ilaps and depressing the same slightly into the Carton;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of a iilled carton, with the inner flaps closed and the outer ap open;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of a carton with parts broken away of a iilled and sealed carton, ready for shipment;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5 5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of the same carton, inverted, and with its perforated front ap section removed and the dispensing tube withdrawn from the carton;

FGURE 7 is a plan view of a carton blank; and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the container in dispensing position.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a carton 2t! with its bottom inside side iiaps closed, and the bottom front and rear outside flaps closed and sealed as by a strip of gummed adhesive tapeZZ. The upper end of the carton has inside similar side iiaps 24 and 25 formed as extensions of the side walls 28 and 30, and outside front and back flaps 32 and 34 formed as extensions of the front and back walls 36 and 38 of the carton. The flaps Zd and 26 have a corner removed as at 40 and 42 of substantially the shape shown, and the flap 32 is provided with a semicircular out out, push in portion, da integral with a perforated tear out portion 46 of generally keystone shape.

The box is formed from a box blank as shown in FP"- URE 7 wherein the two side, front and back walls are indicated at 28, 30, 36 and 38 respectively, with the bottom flaps 29, 31, 37 and 39 integral therewith. A suitable and highly efiicient size carton from the standpoint of area of fiber board required, for holding 5 gallons liquid measure may have side panels approximately as shown, and in each case the side end flaps are rectangular and each pair such as 29 and 3i form a complete smooth fiat inner closure surface, and the flaps 37 and 39 form a complete smooth outer closure for the bottom, when the container is being filled and prepared for shipment. Likewise, the ilaps 24 and 25, except for the removed corners di) and 42 form a relatively complete and smooth inner closure for the upper end, and the iiaps 32 and 34 form a smooth external closure for the upper ends. The blank has a narrow flap Si) adapted for attachment to the edge of panel 28, as by staples 32 or otherwise.

In` practice, the carton is set up in the manner shown in FIGURE 1, and a tubular plastic liner '70, having a filling and dispensing hose 72 is placed within the carton. The liner has greater girth andlength than the internal perimeter and height of the carton, and is placed within the carton collapsed or deflated, with the hose extending upwardout of the carton behind the front flap 32, and centrally in respect thereto. The hose is connected to a vacuum filler apparatus, such as shown and described in copending application No...3,344 filed January 19, 1960, now Patent No. 3,108,901 granted October 29, 1963, which completely collapses the bag .and raries Vthe air in the ller hose, following which the liner is Vrapidly lled by flow under pressure through the tube, during which the liner iills .out withoutstress, into supporting contact with the insidecarton wall surfaces. When the requisite quantity of liquid has been introduced into the liner, which causes Ythesame to nearlyll the carton, the hose is disconnected from the lill apparatus, and vprovided with a sanitary seal at the end '73. 'Flaps 24 and 25 are then folded inwardly, with the hose, and a small hose attachment portion 74 ofthe liner projecting through the aperture 43 formed by the cutaway corners 42 and 40. The flaps 24 and 25 are depressed inwardly of the upper end of the carton as is indicated in FIGURES 2 and 5, the hose'laid along the Vmarker line 6d, and the outer flaps are ,thereafter folded over, and `a strip of adhesive tape 64 applied over the end and upper sides to seal the carton. It will be seen that by depressing the aps 24 angularly inwardly of the plane of the top opening, space forthe 'hose intheform of a shallow isosceles triangle is provided before sealing the outer end flaps 32 and 34.

When the carton is subsequently to be emptied, removal of the tear out portion provides access to the dexi- `ble hose for withdrawal of the hose end and its bagV attachment 74 through the opening thus'formed. The carton, on inversion, for dispensing by means of the hose, ,presents a dat inner end surface to the liner for support thereof, since the flaps 24 and 26, under the weight of the contents of the bag are caused to flatten out against the outer flaps 32 and 34. VThe carton as thus provided does notrequire G-pening, or the removal of adhesive Vtape, or any other operation akin to opening a carton, The mere depression of the ager portion 44 and breaking away of the keystone section 46 from the Vfront flap, and the withdrawal of the tube and the bag attachment portion is all that is required for preparing the carton for dispensing. When the carton is inverted, and the hose placed in a pinch valve, which may be a part of the refrigerating and dispensing equipment, .the plugged end of the hose is unplugged or severed by a sanitary knife, razor blade or the like, and the bag hose attachment portionV projecting downwardly through the aperture Y 43 in a funnel like manner affords free flow from the remainder of the bag, as supported upon the inside surfaces of the inside iaps 24 and 26,

In practice, the line 6G may be imprinted on the flap with instructions such as Lay tube along'line before sealing, so that an operator can hardly fail to follow the vcorrect procedure, and no problem of threading a hose lthrough a flap aperture is presented.

When the package is prepared for dispensing by Withdrawal of the hose Vthrough the outer flap aperture, the package is inverted and placed in a dispensing cab-inet, such as 9i) which may be refrigerated. The hose end is extended through a pinch valve 92, and the plugged end of the hose may thereafter be removed below the valve. When so positionedrwithin the cabinet, the aperture 43 formed by the removal corners of the inner flaps 24 and 26, and the narrow end portion of the keystoneshaped access aperture 47 of the front flap 32 cooperate to conjointly provide a somewhat hexagonal opening with one side rounded, by reason of the rounded V apertureV 43 *formed by the removed corners of the inner aps. The portion of the bag adjacent its attachment to the dispensing or the like.

ltube distends into the opening as at 94 forming a somewhat hemispherical shapedfunnel, which locates the attachment end of the hose completely below the surfaces of the inside flaps, which flatten out upon inversion. The inside tiaps afford a level support surface for the bag end, such that substantially the entire contents of the bag Vmay be readily withdrawn'through the pinch valve controlled hose. lt will be understood that the bag collapses as liquid is withdrawn, and no air enters the bag.

While from the foregoing it has been suggested that the package be prepared for dispensing by Withdrawal of :the tube prior to inversion, it should be evident that the operation can be performed with the .package inverted, as it might be within a refrigeration cabinet, since the removable section, if overhanging the support shelf, is as readily accessible for removal when so inverted, and the tube can be withdrawn when so inverted, the inside flaps seating thereafter.

While no particular reference to the bag details have been made, since such bag is described in Patent No. 3,007,608, it may suce to say that the bag may be lformed of thin polyethylene in sheet form. The bag may be formed of tubular sheet material, or a ifolded sheet of materialheatv sealed valong the edges remote from .the fold to form a tube or a two ply combination thereof. The tube, or Vtubes thus formed, may be heat sealed clear across the lower end, and across the upper lend to a point short of a folded side edge to leave an opening for the insertion of a small sanitary tube end of rubber, plastic The bag `material :adjacent the opening may be gathered about the inserted tube end .and be tightly bound therearound by two convolutions of wire, the ends of which are twisted together in the process, or a plastic tube may be heat sealed to the gathered bag. The tube -end may be stiffened against collapse due to the Wir-e banding, .by an internal rigid sleeve, or by providing the end section of relatively high durometer relatively rigid ma terial. VThe mere binding of .the ,polyethylene material vgathered about the hose end,in the manner described provide-s a liquid tight seal.

`From the foregoing, it ywill be seen that the carton deviates from an ordinary carton, only in the removedcorners, of the Vinner flaps, `and perforated access means in yone ofthe outer flaps, and imprinting thereon. Further it will appear that'in usa-ge, the'vllling and closing of the Ycarton follows usual procedure,V vexcept for the slight depression of the inner flaps to provide space ffor the hose. The final sealing of the carton, with a single tape, placed in theY usual rnannerdoes not deviate from ordinary pack- -ing procedure. Last, but not least, accessto the carton 4for dispensing requires noV removal of any tape, and the Vsealing strips of 'gummed paper may preferably be ap- `plied in a permanent fashion. Access to the contents is had, by the mere removal of the perforated pull section and ywithdrawal of the hose end Vthrough the aperture thus provided.

While a'single modification of the. invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the As various changes in the construction and arrangement may be made 'without departing from the spirit of the invention, yas will be apparent to those skilled in the art, reference -wi'll be had to 'the appended claims for a definitionl of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid shipping and dispensing container comprising a lcarton o'f corrugated fiiber board having substantially like rectangular side, front and back panels, and integral top flaps of generally rectangular shape and of a width 'to substantially meet on transverse center lines :across the 'top'of the carton, the top inside side flaps of Y the side panels-having like angular and curved corner secadvance iinger cutout portion extending 4from the approximate center of the flap partway towards the free edge thereof, and a generally key-stone shaped section of greater area than said opening deiined by perorations Iand integral with said cutout portion, said section having its broad `base dei-ined by perforations extending yalong the approximate center line of the iiap from either side of said cutout portion and its narrow base of less width than said V opening destined by per-forations substantially coincident with the flap tfold, and being otherwise centrally disposed along the ap fold, and one of said side flaps having a hose marker line imprinted thereon extending from the cutout corner thereof in a direction at a slight angle to the tree edge of the iiap, said section when removed providing access for withdrawal of a hose disposed between the iiaps, and coactiug with said V opening to provide an aperture through which the hose attachment portion of a plastic liner may distend.

2. A liquid shipping and dispensing ycontainer comprising a carton ont corrugated ber board having substantially like lrectangular side, tront and back panels, and integral top aps ot generally rectangular shape and of a width .to substantially meet on transverse center lines across the top of the carton, .the top inside side iiaps of the side panels having like angular and curved corner sections rernoved 4from the corners thereof adjacent the front of the carton to provide an inverted small rounded bottom V opening, and the front .top tlap having a semi-circular finger cutout portion extending from the approximate center of the ap partway towards the free edge thereof, and a generally keystone shaped section of greater area than said opening deiined by perforations and integral with said cutout portion, said section having its broad :base deiined by perforations extending valong the approximate center line of the nap .from either side of said cutout portion and its narrow base or" less Width than said V opening detined by .per-forations substantially coincident with the iiap fold, and lbeing otherwise centrally disposed along the flap fold, said section when removed providing access Afor withdrawal of a hose disposed between the flaps, and coacting Iwith said V opening to partial-ly close the same and provide an aperture through which the hos-e attachment portion of a plastic liner may distend.

3. A liquid shipping and dispensing container comprising `a carton of corrugated liber board having substantially like rectangular side, -ront and back panels, and integral top side iaps and front and back flaps of generally rectangular shape and of a Width to substantially rneet on transverse center lines across the top of the carto-n, the top inside side aps of the side panels having like angular and curved corner sections removed from the corners thereof adjacent the front olf the carton to provide an inverted smal-l rounded bottom V opening, and the front top iiap having a semi-circular 4finger cutout por-tion extending `from the approximate center of the flap partway towards the free edge thereof, and a generally keystone shaped section yof greater area than said opening integrati with said cutout portion and deiined by perforations, said section having its broad base delined by perforations extending along the approximate center line of the -tiap :from either side of said cutout portion and its narrow base of less Width than said V opening and deined by perforations substantially coincident with the ilap fold, and being otherwise centrally disposed along the ap ttold, one of said side flaps having -a hose marke-r line imprinted there- 1on extending from Ithe cutout corner thereof in a direction at a slight angle to the free edge of the flap, a plastic bag liner within said carton of .greater gir-th and height than said carton, said liner having a dispensing hose secured at one end, said hose yand a portion of said line-r projecting through said V opening, and said Ihose extending along said marker line, said inside flaps being depressed angolarly to accommodate said hose, and said outside ilaps being closed and sealed by an adhesive strip extending over the top and partway down the sides of the carton.

4. A liquid shipping and dispensing `container comp-rising a carton of corrugated iiberboard having substantially like rectangular side, front and back panels, and integral top llaps of generally rectangular shape and of a Width to substantially meet on transverse center lines across the :top of the cmton, the top inside side aps of the side panels having like angular and curved corner sections removed from the corners thereof adjacent the front of the carton to provide an inverted small rounded bottom V opening, and the front top flap having a semi-circular finger cut out portion yextending from the approximate center of the ap .partway towards the free edge thereof, and a generally keystone shaped section of greater area than said opening defined by perforations and integral with said cutout portion, said section having its broad base defined by perforations extending along the approxirn-ate center line of the iiap from either side of said cutout portion and its narrow base of less Width than said V opening deined by penforations substantially coincident with the ilap fold, and being `otherwise centrally disposed along the ilap `fold, a plastic bag Iliner disposed within said carton of greater girth and height than said carton, said liner having a dispensing hose secured thereto at one end, said hose and a portion of said liner projecting through said V opening, and said hose extending along one of said inside iiaps between the inside flaps and outside flaps, said inside flaps being angnlarly depressed slightly to accommodate said hose, said section When removed providing access for Withdrawal of the hose disposed between the flaps, and the opening formed by removal of the section enacting upon withdrawal of th-e hose from between the iiaps with said V opening -to .partially close the same and provide `an aperture through which the hose attachment portion of the plastic liner may distend.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,954,901 lO/60 Winstead 222-528 X 3,007,608 ll/61 COX 222-107 X 3,078,0l8 2/ 63 Galloway 222-530 X 3,087,655 4/63 Scholle 222-183 3,090,526 5/63 Hamilton et al. 222-105 LOUIS I. DEMBO, Primary Examiner. RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Examiner. 

2. A LIQUID SHIPPING AND DISPENSING CONTAINER COMPRISING A CARTON OF CORRUGATED FIBER BOARD HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY LIKE RECTANGULAR SIDE, FRONT AND BACK PANELS, AND INTEGRAL TOP FLAPS OF GENERALLY RECTANGULAR SHAPE AND OF A WIDTH TO SUBSTANTIALLY MEET ON TRANSVERSE CENTER LINES ACROSS THE TOP OF THE CARTON, THE TOP INSIDE SIDE FLAPS OF THE SIDE PANELS HAVING LIKE ANGULAR AND CURVED CORNER SECTIONS REMOVED FROM THE CORNERS THEREOF ADJACENT THE FRONT OF THE CARTON TO PROVIDE AN INVERTED SMALL ROUNDED BOTTOM V OPENING, AND THE FRONT TOP FLAP HAVING A SEMI-CIRCULAR FINGER CUTOUT PORTION EXTENDING FROM THE APPROXIMATE CENTER OF THE FLAP PARTWAY TOWARDS THE FREE EDGE THEREOF, AND A GENERALLY KEYSTONE SHAPED SECTION OF GREATER AREA THAN SAID OPENING DEFINED BY PERFORATIONS AND INTEGRAL WITH SAID CUTOUT PORTION, SAID SECTION HAVING ITS BROAD BASE DEFINED BY PERFORATIONS EXTENDING ALONG THE APPROXIMATE CENTER LINE OF THE FLAP FROM EITHER SIDE OF SAID CUTOUT PORTION AND ITS NARROW BASE OF LESS WIDTH THAN SAID V OPENING DEFINED BY PERFORATIONS SUBSTANTIALLY COINCIDENT WITH TH FLAP FOLD, AND BEING OTHERWISE CENTRALLY DISPOSED ALONG THE FLAP FOLD, SAID SECTION WHEN REMOVED PROVIDING ACCESS FOR WITHDRAWAL OF A HOSE DISPOSED BETWEEN THE FLAPS, AND COACTING WITH SAID V OPENING TO PARTIALLY CLOSE THE SAME AND PROVIDE AN APERTURE THROUGH WHICH THE HOSE ATTACHMENT PORTION OF A PLASTIC LINER MAY DISTEND. 